The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-02-12

|
The fiery trail of red OGeober was over
all the land. There were coral seed-cups
on the vines over the trellis, but roses no
| longer. Great clamps of hrysanthemums
| famed in the garden, but the hehotrope and
mignouette were no more. \ perfect glory
Of moonlight flooded the long porch which
! gave grace % the plain, roomy cottage Where
a widowed mother had reared two lovely
daughters - daughters whom tomorrow
she was to lose as mothers lose girls whom
they give to men in marriage.
There were dozen merry young people
promeAading the porch IN the white glory
of the Northumberland and best men, as
well as the two pairs of lovcrs-DOlly,
clnging lightly to the strong arm of Roy
Van Alstyn, and Diana pacing side by side
| with the man she had promised to marry
sutton who had fallen In love with Dolly
| first, but on being refused by her in favor
| of Roy, had turned to the elder sister, APP
| pareutiy as we'll satsfied-a widower from
the city, out in the country for his health;
| "A wealthy merchant who could Offset Roy's
| twenty-five thousand with ten times that
sum; fifty years of age, Of County manners
and refined habits.
"He was not a bad match for DIANA"
her friends said "She was so quiet, the
great difference in their age would not be
so observable; and really, after the way
Van Alstyn Tilted her for her sister, it
must be quite "A triumph for her to make
such a match before his very eyes"
On, yes; it must be great triumph!
Doubtless Diana felt it so she walked
proudly and calmly ly MI Burleigh's side,
her fair face fairer still in the brooding
ft,I
lifted to the shining heaven with "A strange
look in them TO many she seemed love
lier than her more blooming sister-a lily
purer and more precious than any rose. As
they passed and repassed each other in the
moonlit promenade Roy's eyes were al
ways lifted from the piquant face of his
own partner and fixed with troubled
scrutiny on that other quieter face, but his
anxious look was never returned
II declare, Roy pouted his brde-elect,
"you seem to be walking in your sleep, If
you are going to be silent and stupid I'll
Seal Diana's fellow and let her have you,
Come, Mr.. Burlegh, let us run away and
hide, like poor Ginevra. It's glorious
night for a walk" 90
Dropping ROy's arm she ran up to the
other couple, with that pretty, sparkling,
uuLl -N'liiHl way VI i'i'
"You have got to lend him to me for a
while, Di. I'll give you Roy to keep for a
few minutes, as little girls lend their dolls.
Be sure you take good care Of him. and
don't let him get broke I'm afraid he's
sullen toni ht--Or sorry, who knOwss--and
rd rather have Mr. Burleigh."
Dolly could say all sorts of things with
safety. People only smiled at her folly as
at that of pretty child. But Roy's face
flushed darkly as she dragged the elderly
tiance away from his batrothed nothing
10th for a lark with his jolly sister-in-law to
be.
Turn about is fair play" he said, sober
lv. "Diana, VIII you take my arm'"
She would not refuse it, though he OBJ
served her hesitate. In a minute they were
walking along the graveled drive, on into
the frost-kissed garden, along the winding
paths shining in the moonlight Finally
in that very arbor where he had met
and kissed Dolly, Roy suddenly stopped
and threw at his companion a look that
turned her pale cheeks even paler. A cry
of anguish, long stifcd, uncomfortable,
burst from him i'll a few desperate words:
Diana, why have you treated me so
since | came back! | came to you, after
'
ardent, eagcr-and YOU froze me with a
look In one cruel moment you allowed
me to see that your love for me was dead.
What suffcre under that blow none but
myself will ever know. 1t is late to speak
to you now, but | must ask you why you
treated me so cruelly!n
" 1t is late, as you say, and you seem to
have comforted easily yourself, Roy"
"Ah, now you are bitter! Would you
like it better if YOU had crushe all life and
hope out of me- You tried hard enough,
Little Dolly was kindcr-little Dolly liked
me- and was sorry for me. was grateful
to herI shall try to make her happy; but
there will only be one love for Inc i'll this
world, DANA
Roy
The passionate ring of pain in her voice
thrilled him with wonder.
Diana
at is wICked-deceitful- for YOU
to say this to me now, Roy, was within
hearing of your every word when you came
back that day, met my sister on this very
spot, mistook her for me, kissed her for
me-aud thcn-loved her for herself She
was to YOU what once | was. Oh she was
fair and gay. and the pink of her cheek was
UlDlt W tI ll'l lllt W IL u VI uIlIlt' NolH
white and thin for love and longing for
him who came home to find me faded and
sad-and to fall i'll love with my sistcrn'
LAS Heaven is over us, Diana, you do me
strange injustice. did mistake Dolly for
you, and ! admired her because sh, was
like You. In my heart | laughed at her
girish vanity, and condemned her selfish
ness; in I'VE minutes | saw that her soul
was not like her body, the image of yours
when found you, at last. my heart melted
in Specchlcss love AZ the sight Of tn" grave,
noble, beautiful girl whom | thought my
own; you know how you received me,
Diana - how you chilled me 60 how you
shruuk from me. And, Diana, the very
day YOU asked 10 be free of your engage
ment, poor foolish. fond little Dolly threw
herself into my arms and asked me to take
her instead. | never can love her; but !
will be good to her, for your sake, Diana.
1t seems SO strange to me that you, Of all
women. should be cold and wOrldly-fo il
is the money alone for which you must be
marrying this other man
He stood and looked at her as if trying
to understand and read the beautiful woman
who had so baffied him. He looked haggard
in the moOnhght-unutterabl sad and
hopeless. Her dark blue eyes searched his
for a moment, then her white face was
buried in her hands.
Il 10 oil 10. hnth ~ hn